479: Shapes Of Things To Come!
Dodgy Synopsis
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483: Kurogane Jimu! Hyota Bui Esu Shinji!
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The twerps have finally arrived at Oreburgh City, a smoggy metropolis sitting at the base of a giant mountain, which means gardening must be a bitch. They head to the Oreburgh Gym, which is kept inside a massive rock formation, but as they approach, the automatic doors open and out steps... well it's that asshole, Paul!
Ash greets him enthusiastically, and Paul's rather cruel response back is a contempteous,"Do I know you?" Ash ignores the hostility to ask if he's just had a Gym Battle and did he get a badge!?! A long haired, unshaven man steps out behind Paul and asks if Ash is a friend, Paul snapping back,"No way!". Ash introduces himself, explaining he has come from Pallet Town in Kanto and is hoping to have his Sinnoh Gym Battle here. The man introduces himself as Ian, tells Ash that the Gym Leader is called Rourke, and that the Gym itself is also a Rock Temple. Ash asks if that means the Gym's specialty is Rock Types, and Paul cocks an eyebrow and grunts,"Duh."
Ian explains that Rourke isn't around at the moment, but once he gets back, Ash can battle once Paul is done. Paul makes a short bow to Ian and tells him he'll be in the Pokémon Centre, grunting in reply to Ash wishing him luck. Ash is left confused, what's his problem?
Ian takes them inside the Gym and gives Ash his Sinnoh Gym Badge Case, and explains what we all already know. Ash needs to win eight Gym Badges, at which point he will be eligible to enter the Sinnoh League Tournament and dash all our hopes by losing to some guy he just met who generally goes on to be beaten by some random person no one ever heard of. Ash thanks him and asks where Rourke is, and is told he is coalmining. Brock says it makes sense; Oreburgh gets its name from the ore that is mined out of the ground, which also explains the thick smog that can be seen rising from the city itself. But Rourke isn't just looking for coal; apparently he's also after buried treasure!
At the coalmine - Machoke, Machamp and Hariyama are helping to carry the big rocks as humans work the thankless, back-breaking job. Amongst them..... Team Rocket!
"The sound of success tells me so!"
"Work hard!" says Jesse.
"Dig deep!" adds James.
"Make some dough!" concludes Meowth.
"Sock it away at a breakneck pace."
"Putting big bucks in poverty's place!"
"Roses smell sweet but we prefer coal!"
"A rose doesn't cut it if money's your goal!"
"Jesse!"
"James!"
"Dig, Meowth's da name!"
"Tired of being on the dole!"
"We're Team Rocket!"
"And we're on a roll!"
"WOBBBBBBUHHH!"
With the motto done, they get down to work, which lasts long enough for Jesse to put her shovel into the ground, then start roaring at the rest of Team Rocket in an almost Baleen Whale like fashion. It's good enough for them to work, but not her! Wobbuffet rolls away in fright (literally! It literally rolls away!), and then Jesse gets a fright of her own when the twerps show up directly behind her asking about Rourke. They gasp and turn their backs on the twerps, whispering amongst themselves in pig-latin before everyone is distracted by the ooohs of the miners as a massive rock is rolled along the tracks out of the mine interior, and Rourke - a young man with black framed emo-glasses - steps out behind it, giving orders.
Rourke places his hand on the rock, which appears to have a pattern on it, and he identifies it as a fossil. He welcomes it from its century to his own, saying that one day he is sure that it will come back to life, which piques the interest of Team Rocket. The twerps explain who they are and what they want, but Dawn can't shut up her big mouth and points out that Paul is there ahead of them. Rourke seems pleased to hear he has two challengers lined up, and then goes on to tell them about the "buried treasure" referred to earlier, which is - of course - the fossils. Meanwhile, Team Rocket sidle up to the other miners and ask about fossils coming back to life, and learn that there is a machine at the museum that can do just that very thing!
Back at the Gym, Rourke tells Ian about the fossil he found, and then Paul enters the Gym and is introduced as his first challenger. Rourke welcomes Paul and leads him away for the Gym Battle, only to overhear Dawn say she can't wait to see a Gym Battle! Rourke is surprised to hear that she has never seen one, and tells her she is welcome to watch, as long as Paul doesn't mind. He grunts that he could care less, and walks away while Ash shakes his fist like an angry old man and Pikachu looks all set to jam 50,000 volts up Paul's ass.
The roof of the Gym opens to shed light onto the rocky ground of the battlefield, while Brock explains to Dawn (and thus the audience) about Gym Battles and the different battlefields that various Gym Leaders use.
Ian acts as Judge, the battle will be three on three, and only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Rourke sends out a Geodude and Paul sends in an Azumarill, which of course will have the Type Advantage over Geodude. Azumarill uses Hydropump, but Geodude blasts it back on it with Hidden Power, and then uses Rollout, smacking into Azumarill before it can use Water Gun, and knocking it out!
"WHAT!?!" snaps Paul angrily, Brock surprised despite the growing power of Rollout, for Azumarill to be knocked out so easily doesn't make sense.
"Good for nothing," grunts Paul.
"CREEP!" shouts Ash.
Paul sends in Elekid, which as an Electric Type has the definite Type Disadvantage against Geodude, which is still rolling in place with Rollout. Elekid tries Brick Break as Geodude uses Rollout, and the two smash together and.... woah, Elekid is pretty damn tough, Geodude just got knocked the fuck out!
Rourke is surprised and impressed, and Brock notes to Dawn that the use of the right moves can overcome Type Disadvantage. Rourke thanks Geodude, then sends out... Onix!
"IT'S HUGE!" gasps Dawn, which is just the type of thing someone like Brock likes to hear!
Brock points out to Dawn that Onix is tough, and explains that he used to raise one too (it would say GA-ROAAAR!) and thus can tell when one has been raised well and is tough.
Paul sticks with Elekid, and has it try Brick Break, but Rourke orders Onix to dodge and use Slam, and it smashes its tail down onto Elekid.... or tries to, but hits a Protect instead!
Onix tries Double Edge, glowing bright and hitting Elekid just as Protect wears off, using Rock head to prevent the recoil damage. Elekid strains to keep itself on its feet, while Paul snaps angrily at it to stay up "or else". Rourke has Onix use Stealth Rock, a strange projectile move that creates rocks all around Elekid, and even Paul looks horrified. Ash asks what is going on, and Brock explains, the move does nothing to Elekid, but any future Pokémon that Paul calls out will take damage from it! So effectively, Elekid is trapped in the fight, and Rourke warns him that he should have recalled it earlier.
Onix uses Slam, smashing down Elekid, though this time Onix does take a burst of electricity, and Rourke gasps,"Uh oh!" as Brock explains that Elekid's special ability of Static has paralysed Onix. Elekid zooms in with Brick Break, but Onix manages to use Double Edge, and the two clash in a flare of white light.
Elekid hits the ground and can barely keep itself in even a bent over position, while Onix is sparking but still looking strong. Rourke notes that Paul shouldn't have relied on Static to keep Onix paralysed, since a Pokémon can still sometimes use moves despite it. Paul reply is to pull out his Pokeball and call back his Elekid, as the twerps realise that he really doesn't care about hurting his next Pokémon with the Stealth Rock, and he sends out Chimchar.
Momentarily excited to be out, Chimchar is immediately surrounded by the Stealth Rocks which crash in on it. It falls out of the burst of smoke looking determined but already panting, then uses Dig to disappear under the Battlefield. Onix tries to sense it, then it emerges and hits Onix with surprising strength, knocking it up into the air. Onix tries a Double Edge as Chimchar digs beneath the earth again, then Rourke tells it to stand still and try to feel Chimchar's movement, wondering to himself when Static will finally wear off. Chimchar emerges beneath it and smashes it once, twice, a third time.... and Onix goes down, it's out!
Rourke tells Paul he is giving him a real run for his money, then sends out his third and final Pokémon - Cranidos! A small, reptilian dinosaur-like Pokémon with spikes on the side of its head and small arms. Ash realises that it looks just like the fossil that Paul took out of the mine earlier, and checks it out with Dextina, learning that it lived in the deep woods about 100 million years ago.
Paul grunts that he can read Rourke like a book and has Chimchar use Dig, while Rourke tells Cranidos to use Headbutt. It sits still and senses Chimchar's movements, then hits it as it emerges from the ground with Headbutt. Paul tells it to try again, and this time Rourke has Cranidos use Zen Headbutt, a far more powerful move that seems to twist and distort the air around its head with a blue glow as it slams into Chimchar again.
It uses Zen Headbutt again, and Chimchar "flinches", not following Paul's Order to Dig but just standing there and taking hit after hit before it starts to glow white with Focus Energy. Ash shouts at Paul to get Chimchar out of there, but then suddenly Chimchar begins to flare up with red energy, it's using Blaze!
Cranidos zooms forward, but the newly juiced-up Chimchar bursts into flame and rolls forward with Flamewheel, and Paul shouts at it to AIM FOR THE LEGS! Yes, he just told his Pokémon to FUCKING KNEECAP IT'S OPPONENT!
Cranidos falls hard, and then gets hit with another Flamewheel before Chimchar uses Dig. Rourke yells at Cranidos to use Focus Energy, but then Chimchar emerges from the ground and grabs it by the legs, flinging it into the air... and Rourke calls for another Headbutt that Chimchar can't dodge in time, and Chimchar is knocked out!
Rourke asks Cranidos how it feels while Paul calls back Chimchar and warns it that he'll "deal with it later", then calls out Elekid which, of course, immediately gets hit by the Stealth Rock. Paul orders it to use Brick Break, and it dodges a Flamethrower from Cranidos and then... then it.... IT PUNCHES CRANIDOS RIGHT IN THE FUCKING KNEE!
Cranidos hits the ground sparking with Static... but then it leaps high and throws off the energy, and Rourke informs Paul that Cranidos just used Mould-Breaker, a move that casts off Special Attack effects. He tells Cranidos to use Zen Headbutt, but it moves too slowly, made lame by the damage done explicitly, expertly and "professionally" to its knee. Paul has Elekid use Brick Break, right on Cranidos' fucking head, and Rourke notes that Paul has no pre-set strategy, he just uses whatever Pokémon/Move Combination that fits the moment. It's an interesting strategy, requiring in-depth knowledge of moves and effects, and goes to show why Paul doesn't seem to bother forming relationships with his Pokémon - they're simply tools for him to use in the right situation at the right time.
He sends Elekid in again with another Brick Break, but Cranidos blasts it with Flamethrower and knocks it down. Cranidos uses Headbutt, while Elekid uses Brick Break, and both Pokémon are knocked back, Cranidos screaming in pain as it uses Mould-Breaker to break off the Static. Paul demands another Brick Break, and Elekid powers its way burning through Flamethrower to smash into Cranidos' Zen Headbutt.
The shockwave blasts back both Pokémon and affects the trainers and twerps as well, and then finally Cranidos collapses, leaving Paul the victor. Without so much as a smile, he calls back Elekid while Rourke returns Cranidos to its Pokeball, tells it take a long rest, then congratulates Paul and gives him the Oreburgh Gym Badge. Paul curtly thanks him, says he will "see him" and then turns and starts walking away, when Ash leaps up and demands to know where he is going. Paul stops and looks back, looking confused and pissed off, and Ash asks if he isn't going to stick around to watch HIM battle?
Paul grunts, sounding bemused, and as the episode ends we are left to wonder, can Ash show Paul that not being an asshole to your Pokémon and everyone you meet can be a successful strategy as well? We'll find out... next episode!
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